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Laying hen rearing systems: a review of major production results and egg quality traits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2014

S. RAKONJAC ,
S. BOGOSAVLJEVIĆ-BOŠKOVIĆ ,
Z. PAVLOVSKI ,
Z. ŠKRBIĆ ,
V. DOSKOVIĆ ,
M.D. PETROVIĆ  and
V. PETRIČEVIĆ
S. RAKONJAC*
Affiliation:
University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Agronomy, Cacak, Serbia
S. BOGOSAVLJEVIĆ-BOŠKOVIĆ
Affiliation:
University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Agronomy, Cacak, Serbia
Z. PAVLOVSKI
Affiliation:
Insitute for Animal Husbandry, Belgrade-Zemun, Serbia
Z. ŠKRBIĆ
Affiliation:
Insitute for Animal Husbandry, Belgrade-Zemun, Serbia
V. DOSKOVIĆ
Affiliation:
University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Agronomy, Cacak, Serbia
M.D. PETROVIĆ
Affiliation:
University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Agronomy, Cacak, Serbia
V. PETRIČEVIĆ
Affiliation:
Insitute for Animal Husbandry, Belgrade-Zemun, Serbia
*
Corresponding author: simcepb@yahoo.com
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Abstract

Laying hen rearing systems have been the focus of scientific research for many years. Over the last few decades, new laying hen rearing systems have been rapidly introduced in an effort to harmonise poultry health and welfare with consumer, producer, industry and environmental demands. Given the above situation, the subject matter of this paper was a comparative review of the results obtained by different authors on the effect of rearing system on productive traits (egg production and mortality) and egg quality characteristics (egg weight, proportions of main egg parts, Haugh units, yolk colour and carotenoids) in laying hens. Although productive performance in alternative systems is often lower compared to conventional, intensive layers, eggs from alternative systems have been proven in numerous studies to have better nutritional properties. Moreover, research results indicate differences within rearing systems. In view of this, this overview of the literature on the use of different rearing systems in table egg production can serve as a tool in determining the future direction of research as well as an indicator of its practical application.

Keywords

laying henrearing systemsproductive traitsegg quality
Type
Review Article
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 70 , Issue 1 , March 2014 , pp. 93 - 104
Copyright
Copyright © World's Poultry Science Association 2014 

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